Curry leaves is one of the most common seasoning ingredients, added to almost every Indian dish to enhance its taste and flavor. However, instead of eating this humble leaf, most of us just discard it because of its slight bitter taste.
Curry leaves has amazing health and medicinal benefits for hair, skin and face.
Curry leaves have always been known to prevent greying of the hair. But it also very effective in treating damaged hair, adding bounce to limp hair, strengthening the shaft of thin hair, hair fall and treats dandruff. The best part about this benefit is that you can either choose to eat the curry leaves to help with your hair woes or apply it to your scalp as a remedy.
Homemade curry leaves hair oil made with fresh curry leaves and coconut oil is very good for premature greying and for strengthening the hair roots. This hair oil has a pleasant smell and it conditions the hair well.
A simple homemade hair pack made with curry leaves is very good for promoting hair growth and arresting hair fall. Grind tender curry leaves to a smooth paste along with little boiled milk to a smooth paste and apply this hair pack and wait for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off. Try to use this hair pack regularly to see results. This hair pack also prevents dandruff.
Curry leaves are a rich source of iron and folic acid. Interestingly, anemia is not only about the lack of body but also about the body’s inability to absorb iron and use it. This is where folic acid comes into play. Folic acid is mainly responsible for iron absorption and since curry leaves is a rich source of both the compounds it is your one-stop natural remedy to beat anemia.
If you suffer from anemia, eat one date (khajoor) with two Curry leaves on an empty stomach every morning.
Curry leaves are highly effective against indigestion. Once ingested, it helps in the digestion process along with aiding in excretion.
To make the remedy, fry cumin seeds in a little bit of ghee and then add the curry leaves, add a cup of water and 1/2 tsp of dry ginger powder. Let it simmer for a few minutes, strain and cool. This mixture, if taken once gives good relief from indigestion. It can be sweetened with honey or Jaggery too.
Curry leaves is very effective in reducing the cholesterol. Curry leaves prevent the oxidation of cholesterol as it is packed with antioxidants. This in turn increases the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) and protects you from heart disease and atherosclerosis. Instead of eating curry leaves after we get the disease, it is best done as a preventive measure.
Curry leaves are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory in nature and possess moisturizing properties as well. This makes it a great home remedy to deal with common skin infections like acne and fungal infections of the nail that are often difficult to treat. Such properties help in resolving common skin problems, when used with other complementing ingredients, in an instant.
A paste made by grinding organic turmeric along with little fresh curry leaves, when applied on problem areas is a good home remedy for acne. But make sure to use pesticide free curry leaves and organic turmeric. You can also organic use turmeric powder for this remedy.
A mixture of curry leaf powder, multani mitti powder, rose water and few drops of rose essential oil makes an amazing face mask that prevents fine lines and brightens the face instantly. Try to make your own curry leaf powder by sun drying and grinding it to a fine powder.
Applying some curry leaves with milk for this, could leave your skin relieved from heat boils, rashes and sun burns. Milk is known to heal and control allergic skin reactions, and calms red spots and rashes with ease. Put in some curry leaves and boil them with milk for a few minutes. Let this cool off, and then apply it gently onto the affected area.
If you suffer from a wet cough, sinusitis or chest congestion, Curry Leaves are a very effective home remedy to relieve the symptoms. Curry leaves can help loosen up and release congested mucous. To relieve congestion, take a spoon of powdered curry leaves and add a spoon of honey to it. Make it a paste and eat this solution twice a day.
Curry leaves lower your blood sugar levels by affecting the insulin activity. Apart from this, the presence of fiber in the leaves plays a significant role in controlling your blood sugar levels. Additionally, curry leaves is known to improve digestion and alter the way your body absorbs fat, thereby helping you lose weight. This is particularly of significance for people who are obese and suffer from diabetes. It is a good idea for diabetic patients to include curry leaves in the diet. To help keep your blood sugars under check, you should ideally add kadi patta to all your meals. Alternatively, consuming fresh curry leaves on an empty stomach every day might do the trick as well.
